Valve catcher



Gct. 26, 194s` 1M, BALL 2,452,283

VALVE CATCHER Filed May 15,v 1944 INVENTOR. 7%545 M ,34 zg Patented Oct. 26, 1948 VALVE CATCHER Thomas M. Ball, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application May 15, 1944, Serial No. 535,657

This invention relates to an improved injection nozzle.

More particularly, the invention pertains to an improvement in the valve assembly of an iniection nozzle of the type used in liquid fuel injecting systems of internal combustion engines.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide means in an iniection nozzle of this character to hold the valve and valve stem structure thereof against displacement from the nozzle and passage into the combustion space of an engine in the event the valve stem breaks during operation.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a valve and valve stem catcher of this kind which may be conveniently embodied in injection nozzles of generally conventional construction; to provide an abutment on the valve member of an injection nozzle and a cooperating abutment in the body structure of the nozzle which co-acts to positively hold a broken valve member against displacement from the nozzle and to provide a reduced or weakened section on the valve stem for assuring that, in the event of failure, the abutment will remain on the fragment of the valve member adj acent the nozzle outlet.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional View of an injection nozzle embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modied form of the invention.

Valve members of injection nozzles of the above character are generally inserted during assembly through the outlet end of the nozzle and therefore all portions fixed on the stem part are necessarily small enough to pass through the nozzle passage. The valve member is normally held against outward movement by a spring which serves to bias the valve element toward its closed position. Such springs generally bear between the nozzle body and a spring seat which is held by nuts or other suitable means on a threaded section provided on the end of the valve stem remote from the valve element thereof. In operation of a nozzle of this kind, it is found that if the valve stem fails, failure occurs substantially at the end of the threaded section closest to the valve element. The forward valve element bearing portion of the stem is, as a result of such failure, projected out of the nozzle passage and into the combustion chamber of the cylinder head of an engine where it causes extreme damage to the moving parts of the engine, such as the piston and connecting rod, as well as the cylinder block and cylinder head.

I have found that displacement of a broken valve stem from the nozzle may be avoided in a nozzle of conventional construction without varyn ing its structure in any Way. In the form` of the 5 Claims. (Cl. 251-145) invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the draw'- ing, theV nozzle illustrated comprises a tubular body portion, generally designated by the numeral lil, having a forward end provided with external threads l l by which the body portion is mounted in a threaded aperture l2 of a cylinder head I3. The body portion lll has a forward passage section iii provided at its outlet end with a Valve seat l5, and a rearward passage section I6 provided by an enlarged coupling element Il' located at the end of the body portion it remote from the valve seat i5. The coupling element ll is provided with internal threads It in which is threaded a hollow plug i9 having an enlarged head 2l] at its outer end. The threaded stem portion of the plug I9 extends outwardly beyond the fitting element I1 of the nozzle body so as to accommodate a coupling head 2l of a fluid supply conduit 22. The coupling head 2l has a bore 23 for receiving the stem portion of the plug I9 and it is provided with an annular groove 24 which communicates with the interior of the plug and the nozzle passage through one or more ports 25 formed in the wall of the stem portion of the plug. The cou pling element El of the conduit 22 is disposed between adjacent faces 26 and 21 on the end of the nozzle body Si! and head 2li of the plug i9, the sealing washers 28 and 29 being provided between adjacent faces of the coupling element 2l, and

faces 26 and 2l, respectively. When the plug 20 is tightly screwed into the nozzle body, it holds the coupling element 2l of the conduit 22 in liquid tight sealed relationship with respect to the nozzle body.

A valve member, generally designated by the numeral itil, is disposed in the nozzle body and provided with the valve element 3| which is adapted to seat upon the valve seat l5 at the forward end of the nozzle body. This valve element includes a stem portion 32 and a threaded section 33, all portions of which are of small enough diameter to accommodate insertion of the valve stem through the outlet end of the forward passage.

section ifi. The valve member is normally thus inserted into the nozzle body prior to assembly of the conduit 22 and plug 2D on the nozzle body. .A C washer 3ft is then introduced into the end of the bore in the coupling element Il which is of sufficient diameter to accommodate passage of the Washer between the threaded section 33 of the valve stem and the threads l 8 while the side faces of the washer are disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve member. After the washer has been moved into the nozzle body to a location beyond the forward end of the' threaded section 33, it may be turned to bring its side faces into substantially normal relationship with respect to the axis of the valve element' while at the same time inserting the valve stem into the passage 35 of the C washer. The C washer may be then pressed forwardly into a cylindrical bore :'3'1' ofisliglitlyzlarger'diameter t'hamthe washer and 1against a shoulder-36' atlthe end of the latter bore.

After insertion of the C washer 34, a spring 315 is disposed in the counterbore I6 of the coupling element I1. A valve seat element 31 is then disposed on the threaded section -33 :and held against leftward movement, Viewedin Fig. l, by a pair of nuts 38, which are threaded on the end portion of the threaded .section .33. The nuts 38 maybe adjusted to suitably predetermine the initial compression of the spring 36 andthe force by which the latterflurges the valve element 3'I"t'o`wards its closed position. The right end of the 'spring 35,as viewed in'Fig. 1, bears against the c'washer "34, firmly holding it against the shoulder 36.

The passage 3'5 of'thc C washer is of sufficient size toacccmmodate relative shifting of the valve stem therein but is not large enough to accommodate passage of a flange '39 provided on the valve stem slightly inv advance of the'forward end ofthethreaded Vsection 33. The ange 39 thus serves as an' `abutment vfor engaging the C washer lito" positively'h'old the forward section of the valvemember from displacement from the nozzle in the event of failure where failure usually occurs,thatis," immediately adjacent the forward end :of .the Ithreaded section. If desired, the valve stem mayube'reduced immediately in ad vance of theforward`v end of the threaded section 33 by forming a groove Ylll in the valve stem in order -to predetermine the location at which breakage will occuriin the event of valve failure.

In-the form of the invention shownin Fig. 3, thefnozzle structure is identical to that illustrated in Fig. l'vbut in place of using a C washer as an abutment member for contacting the 'flange 39 inthe event ofv failure of the valve stem at a location between the flange and the threaded section33, a split washer 4I is disposed adjacent the shoulder 35,. The complementary sections of thesplit washer 4| are provided with complementary semi-circular notches for receiving the stemportionof the valve member. These washer sections may be individually inserted in the coupling elementr end portion l1 of the nozzle body and arranged adjacent the shoulder 36 prior to assembly of the spring 36,vllve seat element 31, and nuts 38 on the valve member.

In the event lof failure of the stem' portion of the valve member atthe location where failure normally occurs either in the presence or absence of the groove 49, the flange 39 abuts the C washer 34 shown in Fig. 2 or the split washer '41, shown in Fig. 3, and holds the forward part of a broken valve member against passage into the engine with which the nozzle is associated, thus ovbiating severe and extensive damagewhich has been found to occur when the valvemcmber of an injection nozzle breaks. "This precaution can be taken with applicants improved nozzle structure without requiring radical Vchange or revision of the nozzle design and without interfering with the normal practice of assembling a valve member of a nozzle of this kind throughthe outlet end f the latter.

Although -but several'spe'cic embodiments of the invention are herein shown and described, it will be understood that various changes in the sequence of operations, steps and materials employed may be made without departing from the spirit of tbe invention.

I claim:

1. A fuel injection nozzle including a tubular bodyiportion having a passage comprising a forward portion .provided with'an outlet at its extremity and a rearward portion of larger cross section than said forward portion and having a shoulder between said portions, a valve member in'said passage including a valve head part for closing said outlet and a stem part having an 'enlargement intermediate the ends of said stern 'part and locatedjinsaid rearward portion of said passage, said valve member being insertable into said nozzle body portion through said outlet and forward portion of said passage, a spring disposed in the rearward portion of said passage and surrounding said stem part and cooperating with the end of said stem part opposite said valve head part for normally urging said valve toward a closedI position and an abutment member adapted to-be arranged in embracing relationship with respect to a portion of said stem between said head partand said enlargement while said stem isdisposed in said passage and to be engaged between said shoulder and said spring for providing a replaceable seat for the latter, said abutment member being normally held `by said spring in fixed relation with respect to said tubular'body portion and. being engageable with said enlargement for holding the portion of said valve member in advance of said enlargement against displacement from said nozzle body in the event of failure of said stem part between said enlargement and the end thereof oppositefrom said valve head part.

2. Afuel injection nozzle includinga tubular body portion having a passage comprising a forward portionlprovided with an outlet at its eX- tremity and a rearward portion of larger cross section than said forward portion and having a shoulder lbetween said portions,.a valve member in'said passage including a valve head part for closing said outlet-and a stem part having an enlargement intermediate the ends of said stem part and located-in said rearward portion of said passage,v said valve member being insertable into said nozzle body portion through said outlet and forward portion ofsaid passage, and 'an abutment member for providing a spring seat adapted' to be arranged in embracing relationship with respect to a portion of said stem between said head part and said enlargement while said stem part is disposed in saidpassa'ge and to engage said shoulder, a spring seat on the end'of said stem part on the side oi said enlargement opposite from said head part,- 'and a spring bearing betweensaid 'seat-and said abutment member normallyurging said valve member toward its closed position and holding said abutment member .in Contact with said shoulder and against movementl relativer-0 said tubular body, said abutment member being engageable with said enlargement in the event of failure of said stem part between said enlargement and the spring seat for holding the portions of said valve member in 'advance of said enlargement vagainst displacement from said nozzle body.

3. A fuel injection nozzle including a tubular body portion having a passage provided with an outlet at one extremity, a shoulder in said passage spaced inwardly from the other extremity thereof, a valve member in said passage including a valve head part for closing said outlet and a stem part including a threaded section at the end portion of said stem part remote from said valve head zpart, -an abutment'surface extending outwardly transversely with respect to said stem `adjacent the inner end of said threaded section, a spring in said passage and cooperating with the threaded stem section for urging said valve toward closed position, and an abutment member providing a seat .between said shoulder and spring and having a passage for accommo dating insertion thereof on said stem while the latter is disposed in said nozzle body portion, said passage being smaller than said abutment surface and said abutment member being engageable with the latter for holding a portion of said valve member against displacement from said nozzle body portion in the event of failure of said valve stem' between the abutment surface and the threaded section of said stem.

4. A fuel injection nozzle including a tubular body portion having a passage provided with an outlet at one extremity, a shoulder in said passage spaced inwardly from the other extremity thereof, a valve mem-ber in said passage including a Valve head part for closing said outlet and a stem part including a threaded section at the end portion of said stem part remote from said valve head part, an abutment surface extending outwardly transversely with respect to said stem adjacent the inner end of said threaded section, a spring seat element on said threaded section, a C Washer on said stem adjacent said shoulder engageable by said abutment surface and providing a spring seat on said housing, and a spring bearing between said C washer and said spring seat element, said C washer being adapted to engage said abutment surface to hold the portion of said stem carrying said valve head against a displacement from said nozzle body portion in the event of failure of said stem at a location between said abutment surface and the spring seat element.

5. A fuel injection nozzle including a tubular body portion having a passage provided with an outlet at one extremity, a shoulder in said passage spaced inwardly from the other extremity 6. thereof, a valve member reciprocably mounted in said passage including a valve head part for closing said outlet and a stem part including a threaded section at the end portion of said stem part remote from said valve head part, a ange extending outwardly from said stem Iat allocation between said threaded section and said shoulder, said stem being grooved at a location between said threaded section and said flange for predetermining the location of 4fracture in the event of failure of said stem, and an abutment member adjacent said. shoulder having a passage for accommodating insertion thereof on said stem while the latter is disposed in said nozzle body portion, said passage being smaller than said flange and said abutment member being engageable with the latter for holding the portion of ysaid stem in advance of said grooved part against displacement from said nozzle body portion in the event of failure of said Valve stem at said groove.

THOMAS M. BALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 187,022 Loughridge Feb. 6, 1877 592,434 Niebling Oct. 26, 1897 762,406 Herrick June 14, 1904 770,088 Moore 1 Sept. 13, 1904 1,120,546 Ruwell Dec. 8, 1914 1,577,473 Latta Mar. 23, 1926 1,934,580 Woolson Nov. 7, 1933 2,255,203 Wiegand Sept. 9, 1941 2,255,404 White Sept. 9, 1941 2,314,218 Jimerson Mar. 16, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 74,318 Austria Apr. 10, 1918 

